News Overview 2025

Whether talking teddy bears or cuddly pets - AI-supported toys and companions are on the rise. The first devices are already available on the market. What opportunities and risks are associated with AI-supported toys? What should parents consider before buying? We provide an up-to-date overview.

The Christmas holidays are approaching and media consumption traditionally increases during these times. Shared media experiences such as a movie night can be a great way to enrich family life. However, it can also lead to arguments and frustration if individual family members appear to be absorbed in their smartphones and hardly pay any attention to their surroundings. Especially if parents want to give devices or digital games as Christmas presents, they should set firm rules. We give tips on how families can avoid arguments about media use.

Many parents are currently looking for a suitable Christmas present for their child and games are already very popular with the youngest children. However, with the huge range of apps, console and PC games on offer, it is not easy to choose the really suitable games. This is where the annual TOMMI children's software award comes in. It recognizes outstanding games that have been tested and approved by both a panel of experts and a children's jury. We present the winners.

The new klicksafe booklet "10 Commandments of AI Ethics" is a supplement to our existing info card and encourages pupils aged 12 and over to think about how to use AI responsibly. The authentic stories it contains were created in collaboration with students from the Digital Ethics department at Stuttgart Media University. To accompany the publication of the booklet, we also conducted an interview with Prof. Dr. Petra Grimm. She is a professor of media research and communication science at Stuttgart Media University and worked with klicksafe on the content of the booklet.

Our award-winning klicksafe spot "Where is Klaus?" is celebrating its twentieth birthday. Since its release in 2005, it has drawn urgent attention to how quickly children can come into contact with problematic content and dangerous contacts online. To mark the anniversary, klicksafe is re-staging the spot and letting children and young people have their say.

Eleven websites for children have successfully completed the Seitenstark e.V. test procedure and were awarded the Seitenstark seal of approval on December 4. The seal of approval was awarded for the third time and offers children, parents and educational professionals and teachers guidance on the internet. The child-friendly chatbot "Auxie", which is now available to all children at www.religionen-entdecken.de, was also presented at the event.

December has begun and, as every year, many parents are thinking about what they could give their children as a special treat on Christmas Eve. A smartphone of their own is certainly at the top of many children's and teenagers' wish lists. This raises many questions for parents: When is a child mature enough to have their own smartphone? Can the devices be set to be childproof? What rules should I set for my child? klicksafe offers lots of information and materials to answer these and other questions.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the Christmas shopping season - at the end of the year, online retailers outdo each other with bargains and discounts. Unfortunately, scammers also take advantage of the general shopping frenzy. They lure us in with supposedly unbeatable offers to tempt us into making purchases. How can you tell the difference between a fake store and a reputable online retailer? We show you what you need to look out for when shopping safely online and offer a simple checklist and teaching material for working with young people.

How do young people communicate with each other online and what codes do they use in digital spaces? The new Mini Youth Campaign, which klicksafe is running this week together with Nummer gegen Kummer, addresses these questions. The campaign shows: Young people want to talk about their digital lives and they find clear words when it comes to risks, misunderstandings and problematic developments.

On the occasion of today's Children's Rights Day, klicksafe is publishing a new quiz. It teaches some of the key children's rights in the digital environment in an interactive and entertaining way. Since 2021, there have been rules that explain how children's rights must also be implemented online. Our new quiz is a great way to educate children and young people about their rights online and raise awareness of children's rights. The content of the quiz was created by klicksafe together with the Digital Opportunities Foundation.

November 18 is the day for the protection of children from sexual exploitation and sexual violence. klicksafe is marking the European day of action with an overview of all the materials we offer on the topic of sexual violence against children. Our partners in the Safer Internet DE network are also offering a webinar today at 2 pm on the topic of "Together against sexualized violence online".

Whether for school, research or answering everyday questions, more and more young people are relying on the help of AI. At the same time, the smartphone remains their constant companion and central medium. However, although most young people know that taking a break from their smartphone is good for them, they find it difficult to self-regulate their use of the device. This is shown by the results of the new JIM Study 2025 by the Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs).

What do young people see as the biggest risks when they are online? What tips would they give other young people on how to deal with the various challenges they face online? Several interviews and workshops with participants of the klicksafe Youth Panel have resulted in a comprehensive guide with tips from young people on topics such as cyberbullying, excessive media use, hate speech and dealing with AI. The new information brochure is now available to download and order.

The discussion surrounding media consumption by children and young people is often characterized by concerns and negative headlines. As a result, the many enriching and educationally valuable offers often fade into the background. In order to draw attention to these, the specialist media education institution SIN - Studio im Netz has been awarding the Educational Media Prize to outstanding digital products every year since 1998.

Cyberbullying is still widespread among young people. Many of those affected remain without help. To mark the International Day against Bullying and Cyberbullying, we are publishing a serious game created in cooperation with the French Safer Internet Center. We have also comprehensively revised our brochure for parents on the subject of cyberbullying. It can be ordered now. You can find out what other information and materials we offer on the subject of cyberbullying in our article.